Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Glen Allen, VA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.6% of gross income.
Glen Allen rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Virginia cities have lower median rent than Glen Allen, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Glen Allen
View full rent data for Glen Allen, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Glen Allen, VA?
Median rent in Glen Allen is $2,098 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Virginia earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 67.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Glen Allen?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Virginia (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Glen Allen's current median rent is $2,098/mo, which is $1,166/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Glen Allen?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Virginia works roughly 117.1 hours a month to cover Glen Allen's median rent of $2,098.
Where is rent cheaper than Glen Allen for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Mechanicsville ($2,096/mo), Mechanicsville ($2,095/mo), Yorktown ($2,095/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.